tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4070053904538802680.post6340233262634370484..comments2013-07-06T15:44:50.773-07:00Comments on Teaching Without Walls: Life Beyond the Lecture: VoiceThreads of InclusivityMichelle Pacansky-Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373124619557441649noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4070053904538802680.post-82110169450387275622009-08-14T10:47:19.222-07:002009-08-14T10:47:19.222-07:00Our team at the Gilfus Education Group just releas...Our team at the Gilfus Education Group just released this white paper to provide critical insights to practitioners while clarifying &quot;Social Learning&quot; as a concept.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gilfuseducationgroup.com/social-learning-buzz-masks-deeper-dimensions" rel="nofollow">Social Learning Buzz Masks Deeper Dimensions Mitigating the confusion surrounding “Social Learning” (Download Here)</a><br /><br />It is our hope that by leveraging socially based technologies the education industry can shape a new educational technology paradigm that realizes the promises of true “Social Learning”.<br /><br />By understanding its applications we can create a unique opportunity to improve student engagement, student retention, academic success and overall educational outcomes.<br /><br />– Stephen Gilfus, Gilfus Education Group (Founder Blackboard Inc. left the organization in 2007)Gilfus Education Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479785941101694698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4070053904538802680.post-19288690648537139442009-03-24T13:06:00.000-07:002009-03-24T13:06:00.000-07:00Thanks, Michelle: I have to admit that I am a bit...Thanks, Michelle: I have to admit that I am a bit concerned about managing the grading part of all this. Unlike the Blackboard discussion tool there is no posting of the number of times students contribute, etc. I appreciate the concern that students understand the expectations, too. I had a student turn in a paper recently in a newletter format... all glitzy looking but not the old fashioned "academic" paper so I have some ambivalent feelings about allowing creativity vs. teaching them the standards expected for grad school, which is still pretty traditional. But, I guess balancing these kinds of concerns is what starts the dialogue that keeps all of us thinking and sharing.<BR/>Triciasierraartprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03526231206517060201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4070053904538802680.post-90401066316170211582009-03-24T07:50:00.000-07:002009-03-24T07:50:00.000-07:00Hi Tricia. My thoughts are that you're headed in ...Hi Tricia. My thoughts are that you're headed in a terrific direction. You need to be thinking clearly about assessments and how you'll be structuring your entire course design. Moving away from a book will enliven your students learning and enable each of them more opportunities to engage with interactive content (and if you're utilizing smarthistory, it's excellent, high quality content too). But the thing you need to be focusing on here is the word "selecting." You need to keep their path focused, in some way, so they understand your expectations of them and how or what objectives you'll be assessing them on. I wish you much luck on your journey. Perhaps you and the other part-timer art history instructors could begin an online discussion community to share your ideas? You're all wonderful. Take care.<BR/>-MichelleMichelle Pacansky-Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01373124619557441649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4070053904538802680.post-53088473617531141932009-03-23T22:09:00.000-07:002009-03-23T22:09:00.000-07:00Michelle:I have become convinced that I have to fi...Michelle:<BR/>I have become convinced that I have to find a way to separate me and my students from the textbook publishing industry. I'm thinking of using smarthistory as a jumping off point and suplementing with voice thread discussions... any thoughts? Triciasierraartprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03526231206517060201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4070053904538802680.post-65875613780511213182009-03-23T11:55:00.000-07:002009-03-23T11:55:00.000-07:00Hi Thomas, thanks! It feels good to be able to sha...Hi Thomas, thanks! It feels good to be able to share some data about how VoiceThread has been enhancing and retexturizing my students' learning landscape. I am now using it as a regular component of a face-to-face class and look forward to assessing its potential to on expand traditional class discussions beyond the four walls of our classroom. Stay tuned! -MichelleMichelle Pacansky-Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01373124619557441649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4070053904538802680.post-17671731906932251722009-03-23T11:44:00.000-07:002009-03-23T11:44:00.000-07:00Really good job analyzing the use of VoiceThread. ...Really good job analyzing the use of VoiceThread. You have convinced me to use it in my own studies.Thomas Sheppardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354740019826894233noreply@blogger.com